Low on Charge - Our Top Picks to Help

Everybody's been there. You've had a long day at work, an even longer journey home, it's just started to rain and your phone dies before you've had a chance to organise your lift back. And then there's that time when your computer ran out of juice while you were in the middle of an important piece of work on the train. We've all experienced the woes of battery failure, which is why it's important to always have some back up. I've picked out a selection of chargers, battery packs and devices that will ensure you never run out of juice again.

Anker PowerCore 20100...

One of the best and most popular portable power packs, the Anker PowerCore 20100 will give you a week of emergency charges before you have to power it back up.

Weighing roughly the same as a tin of soup, it uses PowerIQ and VoltageBoost technology to deliver the fastest possible charge, and not just on one device. With double 2 amp ports, you get an even charge for two devices, including any smartphones or tablets you might own.

It also comes with a nifty travel pouch, not to mention a micro USB cable and a useful LED lighting system that lets you know when the device itself needs charging. Just remember to give yourself plenty of time to charge it, because it will be an overnight job to get it back to full strength.

While the 20100 may be the company's most powerful portable charger, the Anker PowerCore II Slim 10000 is its most convenient and easy to carry around with you.

The smaller size and lighter weight does come at the cost of power, but there's still enough juice to charge your phone at least three times, which makes it ideal for emergencies or weekends away.

And it's equally as fast as more powerful models, charging phones within an hour and a half. The slim design means you can also charge your phone in your pocket, while the silicone shield gives it some added toughness.

And speaking of compact phone chargers, they don't come more dinky than the Fuel 2, which is billed as the world's smallest portable charger.

Small enough to fit on your keyring, the Fuel 2 won't charge your phone completely, but it will give you a few extra hours of talk time, which is perfect for when you've been delayed and need to make a call.

Likewise, it will get you out of a jam if you want to check your emails, use a map app, or grab a high score on Super Mario Run.

Measuring in at only 1.2" x 1.5" x 0.6", it lasts for months on one charge (until you use it) and slips in to your phone when you need it. You can get Micro-USB, Lightning Port and USB Type-C models, so new and old phones are covered.

You can grab your very own Fuel 2 Phone Charger from the Devotec Industries website. The Android USB Type-C version costs £17.99, while the iPhone version costs £19.99 and the Micro-USB edition is available for £14.99.

Nokia 3310...

If you don't fancy lugging a spare battery pack around with you all day, perhaps you should think about getting a new phone instead. The Nokia 3310 may not be as advanced as the latest iPhone or Samsung Galaxy, but it certainly won't run out of battery after just one day.

The Nokia 3310 is a fantastic secondary phone that you can take away on a trip or to a festival. You can make calls, send texts, take basic pictures, do a bit of internet browsing and play classic mobile game Snake - which remains as addictive as ever.

But it's the 25-day battery life and rugged design is what really seals the deal. The Nokia 3310 won't let you down, so maybe it's worth paying another visit.

The Nokia 3310 is available from Carphone Warehouse, where it costs £15 a month with no up front costs.

ElectriQ Universal Laptop Charger...

Of course, it's not just your phone that needs to be recharged in a jam. The ElectriQ Universal Laptop Charger will be there for anybody with some important work to take care of and nowhere to plug in their laptop.

Compatible with 99% of laptops, it contains enough power to charge your device 2-3 times on a single charge thanks to its 30,000mAh power reserve.

It's housed in a sleek aluminium casing with power LED light indicators to let you know when it needs charging. It's also extremely light and compact, and is packing multiple USB ports for additional devices.

The Nintendo Switch is easily my favourite gaming gadget of the year, letting me play incredible games like The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart 8 and even FIFA 18.

The only drawback to the Switch is the 3-hour portable battery life, which is fine on a short journey, but becomes a bit of a problem when you're flying long-haul or haven't got anywhere to plug in your charger.

The Nintendo Switch battery Charger Case solves all your gaming problems, adding another full charge to the console, which essentially doubles the battery life.

And with the case clipping on to the back of the device, Antank has included an extra set of kickstands, which are actually better and sturdier than the original.

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About Liam Martin

I love gadgets, gizmos and games and look forward to a future where humans and robots can co-exist peacefully. My most wanted list includes an Apple/Samsung smartphone hybrid, a flying Lamborghini and a virtual reality-based job where I don't have to leave the house.